Hundreds of Winnipeg Bill C-51 opponents rally at City Hall

Hundreds rallied at Winnipeg’s City Hall Saturday afternoon as part of a national day of action to denounce Bill C-51, anti-terrorism legislation proposed by the federal government that critics say will give police and Canada’s spy agency much broader powers — including the ability to detain terror suspects.

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The "Defend Our Freedom" demonstrations were held across Canada Saturday. The movement grew out of a rallying cry in communities across Canada and online challenging the bill.

Many Canadians and academics argue it will infringe on civil liberties and privacy rights.

Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin spoke to the crowd Saturday.

“Right across the country, say no to Stephen Harper, no to the secret police act," a fired up Martin told protesters.

"And I urge you, in the next federal election, you use the most powerful tool you have, your vote, and you ask whoever is on your door step, ‘did your party vote for Bill C-51? Because if they did I’m not going to vote fore you!’”

Dorothea Toews, who attended the Winnipeg rally, said the bill flies in the face of Canadian privacy values.

"It's another piece of sketchy proposed legislation,” said Toews. “In this case it really infringes on essential rights that Canadians have and we just can't except the violation of those rights and taking them away."

The federal Conservatives tabled the bill in January and maintain it will make Canadians safer by giving surveillance agencies more power to track terrorist activities.